Sheet classifiers



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SHEET CLASSIFIERS I Original Filed Jan. 24, 1949 e Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR LAURENCE W. TRUVER BY M w ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,891,667 Patented June 23, 1959 2,891,667 SHEET CLASSIFIERS 72,313, January Continuation of application Serial No.

17, 1954, Serial 24, 1949; This application August No. 450,336"

Claims. (Cl. 209-88) This invention relates. to. classifiers for gauging and classifying sheets and, more particularly relates to apparatus. for gauging and. segregating sheets in accordance with the variations in their thickness. The present invention will be described. in connection with the classification of sheetsof tinplate and particularly in connection with theclassificationv of sheets of tinplate produced by the;hot. dip process. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to such sheets and may be used forclassifying sheets of electrolytic tinplate or sheets of other material- Manufacturers who process tinplate to produce finished or semi-finished productsfor example, tin cans and other articlespass the sheets; through relatively complicated machineswhich forn'rthe sheet material into the desired shape. Such users of tinplate require that the tinplate, and especially the tinplate for each machine, have a thickness maintained within. close tolerances of a predetermined nominal. thickness. Accordingly, it is essential for manufacturers and suppliers of tinplate accurately to classify the sheets into classes. in accordance with the thickness of the sheets. The apparatus must operate accurately at high speed to classify the sheets properly and segregate the sheets having the desired proper or normal thickness from those sheets having a difierent or abnormal thickness.

A number of difiicult' to solve problems are involved in properly gauging and classifying sheets in accordance with the variations in their thickness. For example, the sheets supplied to a particular can-making machine must each have a thickness only varying by a very small tolerance from thedesired nominal thickness. Such a group of sheets must not include off-gauge sheets-that is, sheets of abnormal thickness. The allowable tolerance by which the sheets in one class or group may vary from the nominal thickness depends,.in part, on the nominal thickness. For relatively thinsheets, all of the sheets must be held within very close tolerances. For heavier gauge sheets, the magnitude of useable variations in thickness from the nominal thickness may be somewhat greater. For economical reasons, the supplier of tinplate must include in any one class all of those sheets which do not vary beyond the maximum or minimum tolerance. Accordingly, the sheet classifying apparatus should be adjustable to segregate the sheets of any desired nominal thickness and also should be adjustable to vary the tolerance of the normal sheets so that all of the sheets which can be used will be included with the normal sheets.

At times, the classifiers heretofore proposed have operated improperly when for any reason a sheet was not present. In an attempt to prevent improper operation ofv the classifiers as a result of any one of a number of factors, very complicated control circuits have been proposed, and these control circuits'have not been entirely satisfactory. One difi'iculty encountered has been that the hot dip tinplate sheets have relatively thick edge, commonly referred toas the-list' edge, which operates theclassifier improperly.

Accordingly, itis an object of the present invention to provide sheet classifying apparatus which will.=properly classify and segregate the class of sheets havingthe desired nominal or normal thickness from those'which have an abnormal or undesirable thickness.

Another object of the present invention is, to; provide anv improved sheet classifying apparatus WhichWilLsegre: gate into one class; all those sheets which varyrbya-.p re,- determined amount from-the desired nominal thickness,

Another object of the present invention is to provide a. sheet classifying apparatus which will segregate the normal sheets and which is adjustable to, varythe tolerance by which the normal sheets vary from. a nominal thickness. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide, a sheet classifying apparatus which. includes an. improved control circuit for properly actuating the various. ele ments of the apparatus.

Another object of. the present inventionis toprovidean improved sheet classifying apparatusfor successively gauging a series of sheets and then segregating the gauged sheets at a predetermined period after the sheets have been gauged.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sheet classifying apparatus that can be readily and accurately adjusted to segregate into one class those sheets having any desired nominal thickness- The present invention provides an improved, sheet classifying apparatus which gauges and segregates the sheets in accordance with the variations in. the thickness of the sheets. The apparatus can be readily and accurately adjusted to segregate, the sheets of any. desired nominal thickness and to vary the maximum and mini: mum Variation in thickness from the nominal thickness. The apparatus is not actuated improperly by lack of a sheet being fed to the apparatus and isnot actuated improperly by the list edge.

These and other objects and advantages. will become more readily apparent from the following detailed, description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a sheet classifier embodying the principles of the present invention and having some portions shown in section to better illustrate the apparatus;

Figure 2. is a partial plan view of the sheet classifying apparatus of Figure 1 and showing more particularly the arrangement of a sheet gauging means;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along lines 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic Wiring diagram illustrating the control circuit for the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a side view partially in section of sheet classifying apparatus embodying some of the principles of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a plan View of the apparatus of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of; Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Figure 9 and includes a diagrammatic showing of the electrical connections; and

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram illustrating a modification of the control circuit of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to} Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the sheets S to be classified are successively supported and moved along a, predetermined 3 path by sheet conveying means 16 past a sheet gauging means 12 to an electrically controlled sheet segregating means 11.

The sheet gauging means 12 is mounted along the path of the sheets in advance of the deflector means 11 and is connected through a control circuit 13, shown more clearly in Figure 5, to the sheet deflecting means so as to control operation of the deflecting means 11 in accordance with the thickness of the sheets moving along the conveyor means 10. The purpose of the sheet deflecting means 11 is to guide and direct the sheets of normal thickness along one path and the sheets of abnormal thickness along a different path so as to segregate the abnormal sheets and the normal sheets into different classes.

The sheets 5 are successively moved along a predeter mined path by conveyor means which may be of any suitable type. The conveyor means includes a plurality of relatively narrow, continuously moving belts 16 supported by suitable rolls, such as roll 18, mounted in the frame 17.

The sheet classifying or deflecting means 11 is operable to a first or normal position to direct the normal class of sheets along one path and is operable to a second or abnormal position to direct the abnormal sheets along a different path. The deflecting means 11 includes a conveyor means 21) and a pair of deflector gates 21 and 22, each movable to a sheet deflecting position and to a non-deflecting position. As will be described more fully in connection with the control circuit 13, gate 21 deflects the abnormal sheets which are under gauge, and gate 22 deflects the abnormal sheets which are over gauge. When the deflectors 21 and 22 are in the nondeflecting position, shown in the drawings, the sheets S continue to move along the conveyor means to a collecting station where the sheets are collected and stacked in any suitable manner. The deflector or gate 21 is hinged on a shaft 23 and has its outer end connected to an end of plunger 24 of solenoid 25. Normally, solenoid 25 holds the gate 21 in the raised position, and when energized swings the end of the gate down into deflecting position to guide the sheet upwardly and onto a stack of sheets at 27. A roll 28 is provided for guiding the sheets deflected by gate 21. The other gate 22 is similarly hinged on a shaft 30 and is normally maintained in the raised position by a similar solenoid 31 having the outer end of its plunger 32 connected to the gate 22. A rotatable roll 33, similar to roll 28, is mounted above the deflector 22 for guiding the deflected sheets along a path to a different stack or location (not shown).

The plungers 24 and 32 are spring balanced to the raised position so that the deflector means, deflectors 21 and 22, are normally maintained in the raised or nondeflecting position, and it is only when the solenoids are energized that the corresponding deflectors are swung downwardly to the sheet deflecting position. The deflector gates 21 and 22 are shown as being positioned above the conveyor means for normal sheets. The deflector gates may be positioned below the path for the normal sheets so as to deflect the abnormal sheets downwardly instead of upwardly. If desirable, the gates 21 and 22 can be balanced toward the deflecting position so that upon energization the solenoids will move the gates from the deflecting position to the non-deflecting position.

As the sheets move along the conveying means 11 toward the classifying means 11, the sheets are successively moved one by one past the gauging means 12 which actuates the electrically controlled classifying means 11 to segregate the normal sheets from the abnormal sheets. An elongated supporting member or beam 35 extends transversely across and above the path of the sheets and supports the gauging means 12 in advance of the classifying means 11 so as to gauge the sheets before they are segregated. As the sheets S move past the gauging means, they pass over a roll 36 which contains grooves 37 in which are located the belts 16. The roll 36 includes an anvil portion 38 which extends above the surface of the belts and which engages the bottom surface of each sheet so as to accurately position the level of the sheet as it is being gauged.

On the beam 35 there is mounted the gauging means 12. A bracket 40 is attached to beam 35 and supports a stud 41 on which is rotatably mounted a holder 42 carrying a pin 43 on which is rotatably mounted a sheet gauging roll or member 44. A switch operating memher or arm 45 is also mounted in the holder 42. The holder 42 is biased to urge the gauging roll 44 downwardly toward the anvil. A bolt 46 having a head 47 on one end and a nut 48 on the other end extends through switch arm 45 and a bracket 49 on the beam 35. The hole in arm 45 through which bolt 46 extends is larger than the bolt so that the arm 45 can swing through an arc. A compressed spring 51 is positioned on bolt 46 between head 47 and arm 45. The spring urges the roll 44 toward anvil 38 and the sheets moving along the conveyor. As the roll 44 engages the upper surface of each sheet moving along the conveyor, the roll 44 and the arm 45 are moved from their initial position through an are having a length in accordance with the thickness of the sheet being gauged. The distance the roll 44 is moved by a sheet is equal to the thickness of the sheet S. When no sheet is moving along the conveyor past the gauging means, roll 44 is in contact with anvil 38. At times, it may be desirable to maintain the initial position of the roll 44 spaced from anvil 38 to reduce wear. It roll 44 is normally spaced above the anvil 33, this spacing will be less than the minimum thickness of the sheets so that roll 44 will be moved away from the conveyor and toward beam 35 through a stroke having a length in accordance with the thickness of the sheet being gauged.

As will be more fully hereinafter described in connection with the control circuit 13, the control circuit actuates the deflector means in response to movement of the gauging roll through a stroke of predetermined length to separate the normal sheets having a predetermined nominal thickness from the other abnormal sheets. The supplier of classified sheets at times must supply groups or classes of sheets of different nominal thickness. The gauging means is accurately adjustable toward and away from the path of the sheets to adjust the length of stroke or strokes required to actuate the deflector means and to vary the nominal thickness of the normal sheets. A support 46' is mounted on the frame 17 at one side of the conveyor means and one end of the beam 35 is hinged at 47 on the support 46 for movement in an are about a horizontal axis extending in the same direction as the path of sheet movement. A fixed support 49' is mounted on the other side of the frame. A bolt 50' extends through a threaded nut or collar 51 on the end of beam 35. A dial 52 and a handle 53 are fixedly connected to the upper end of bolt 50'. The lower end of bolt 5e engages an upper surface of support member 49. Turning of handle 53 turns bolt 50 to raise or lower the end of beam 35 through an are about the axis of binge 47'. The dial 52 is calibrated and a fixed pointer 55 is mounted on the beam to indicate the position of the bolt and the height of the gauging means. When bolt 50 is turned in a right-hand direction, the end of beam 35 is raised which in turn raises the gauging means including roll 44 to increase the thickness of the sheet that will actuate the deflector means. Similarly, the bolt So can be turned in a left-hand direction to lower the beam and reduce the length of stroke required to lift the roll 44 sufliciently to actuate the deflecting means. The belt 511 is provided with 20 threads per inch and the axis of bolt 50 is twice as far from the axis of hinge 47 as the gauge roll 44 so that one turn of bolt 50 raises or lowers the endof beam .050 inch and the gauge 'roll' fl025' inch. With the dial 52 calibrated in twenty-fifths, turning bolt50' one indicia mark will raise or lower the gauge roll .001 inch. Thus, the gauging means can be accurately adjusted to adjust the nominal thickness of the normal class of sheets.

The control circuit includes a pair of under and over gauge switches 56 and 57 arranged to operate the dehector means to the sheet deflecting position when either switch is closed. Switches 56' and 57 are micro-switches, and, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 5, switch 56 includes normally open contacts'58 and 59 which are closed or opened by movement of the switch button 60. Switch 57 includes normally closed contacts 61 and 62 which are closed or opened upon movement of switch button 63. The switch buttons 60' and 63 are actuated lay-switch contacting means 60a and 63a, respectively, carried by the switch operatingmember 45. The switches 56 and 57 are shown' in the positions assumed when gauging a sheet of normal thickness. When the rollv 44 is. in contact with or adjacent to the anvil 38, as is the condition when no sheet is passing between roll 44 and anvil 38, the upper end of switch arm 45 moves downwardly toward the switches from the position shown in Figure 5 and switch 56 is closed and switch 57 is open. When a sheet passes beneath roll 44, the roll 44 is raised and arm 45 is moved in a direction away from the switches through a stroke having a length in accordance with the thickness of the sheet being gauged. A relatively shorter stroke opens switch 56 and a relatively longer stroke closes switch 57. The difference in the lengths of these strokes is proportional to the diiference between theminimum and maximum thicknesses of the normal sheets.

Electric current is supplied from a suitable source through wires 65 and 66 to'wires 67, 68 and 69 arranged for supplying a current of relatively lower voltage, such as 110 volts, for actuating the controls and a current of relatively higher voltage, such as 220 volts, for energizing solenoids 25 and 31.. Contact 61 is connected through wire 71- toone side of switch 72 which is connected through 'wire 73 to a timer 74 which controls switch 75. Contact 62 is connected. through wire 76 to wire 68. Contact 59 of switch 56 is connected through wire 77 to wire 68 and contact-58 is connected through wire 78 to one side of switch 79 which is connected through wire 80 'to timer 90 which controls switch 91. Switches 72 and 79 are similar and are normally biased in the open position and closed upon energization of their coils 92 and 93. Coil 92 is connected through wire 94, wire 95 photoelectric cell 96 and wire 97 to wire 68. The other side ofcoil 92 is connected through wire 98 and wire 99 to wire 69-. Wire 98 also is connected to timer 74. Coil 93 is connected through Wire 95, photo-electric cell- 96 and wire 97 to wire 68. The other side of coil 93 is connected through wires-101 and 102 to wire 67.

Timers 74 and 90 are similar and may be of any suitable type. Each timer automatically closes the corresponding switch 75' or 91 a predetermined period after the circuit to the timer is completed. This period is equal to the time required by a sheet S to pass from the gauging means 12 to the corresponding deflector gate 21 or 22. A normally open relay 104 is connected through Mm 105 to wire 69 and is connected through wire 106 to switch 75; When switch 75 is closed by timer 74, wire 106 is connected throughwire 107 to Wire 68 to complete the circuit to relay 104. Upon closing of the circuit of relay 104, wires 109 and 110 are connected to connect one side of solenoid 31 to wire 69. Solenoid 31 is connected through wire 111 to wire 67. The normally open timer switch 91 controls relay 112 which is connected through wire113 to wire 67. When the switch 91 is closed, the circuit to relay 112 is completed through wires 114 and 115 to wire 68. Solenoid 25 is connected through wire 116 to wire 69 and-when relay-112-is energized, the circuit for solenoid 25 is completed through wire 117, wire 118 to wire-67; When solenoid 25' is energized; gate 21 is lowered to the deflecting position and when solenoid 31' isenergized, gate 22 isswung down to the deflecting position. Upomdeenergization of the solenoids, the corresponding gatesareraised to' the nondeflecting position shown.

As shown more clearly in Figures 2, 3 and 5, photoelectric cell 96 is mounted above the path of the sheets in a Vance of the gauging means and is" directed toward a lig t source 120. The photo-electric cell is arrangedso that it is only when a sheet S is hetweencell 96 and; light 120 that current can flow from wire 97 to wire to energize coils 92 and 93" to close switches 72 and 79; Thus, cell 96 renders the switches '56 and 57 inette'ctive except when a sheet is passing cell' 96: The cell 96 is a predetermined distance in advance of'the gauging means so that when the relativelythick' trailing, or list edge passes the gauging'roll 44, no sheet is between cell 96 and light source and cell 96 renders the gauging means ineffective; The list edge of a sheet of hot dipped tinplate has a thicker edge and this list edge does not operate the gauging means to'cause-the classifying means to improperly'classify the sheet: Preferably, switches 72 and 79 are of the type which include time delay means which in turn prevent closing of the switches until a predetermined period after their coils 92 and 93 areenergized such that the leading edge portion of the sheet is past the gauge roll 44 before the switches arevclosed. These switches also are of the type that open immediately after their coils are de-energized, and, as the photo-electric cell 96 de energizes these coils before'the trailing edge portion arrives at gauge roll 44, only the intermediate portion of thesheet that is between the leading and trailing edges is eflective in operating the deflector means. This arrangement prevents operation of the classifying means by either theleading or trailing edge which may he thicker or deformed was to operate the gauging means improperly.

The nominal thickness of the normal sheets that is, the thickness of the sheets not deflected by the deflecting means-can. be adjusted by adjusting the handle 53 to raise or lower beam 35. When beam 35 is raised, it raises the gauging means including roll 44 and switches 56 and 57 so that sheets of greater thickness are required to actuate the switches. When the beam is lowered, thinner sheets williopen the switch 56 and close the switch 57. Thus, adjusting the beam 35 changes the nominal thickness of the normal sheets without changing the difference in tolerance of the normal sheets. By the term tolerance is meant the difference in thickness between. the normal sheets of maximum and minimum thickness. The tolerance of the normal sheets dependson the difference in length of strokes required to open switch 57 and close switch 56'.

Sheets of diiferent nominal. thickness may vary in tolerance. The thicker the normal sheets, the greater the tolerance can be and vice versa The present apparatus includes means for adjusting switches 56 and 57 relative to switch arm 45 for adjusting the tolerance or difference between the maximum and minimum normal sheets by adjustingthe dilference in lengtlr'of strokes required to close switch. 57 and to' open switch 56. Switches 56 and 57 are mounted on opposite sides and at one end of an arm 122 which is in turn rotatably supported for movement about the axis of a bolt 123'in bracket 50. The outer end of arm 122' has abolt 124 extending therethrough with its end engaging beam 35. A calibrated dial 125 and a handle 126 are mounted on the outer end of belt 124. A tension spring. 127 urges arm 122 and bolt 124 toward the beam 35'. The operator, by turning handle 126, can move the switches in an are about the axis of bolt 1-23. The switches are disposed on opposites of. an imaginary plane including the axis of bolt 123 and: a line extending from. the bolt axis to.

ward the switch arm 45 and along which line the arm 45 moves back and forth in response to the sheets. When the bolt 124 is turned to move the outer end of the switch supporting member 122 away from the beam 35, both switches 56 and 57 are moved in an arc toward the beam. This movement of both switches in the same direction moves switch 56 toward arm 45 and switch 57 away from arm 45. When switch 56 is moved in a direction toward arm 45, a longer stroke of arm 45 and a thicker sheet is required to move arm 45 sufficiently to open switch 56. When switch 57 is moved in a direction away from arm 45, a shorter stroke of arm 45 and a thinner sheet is required to move arm 45 sufficiently to close switch 57. Thus, movement in this direction decreases the tolerance between the maximum and minimum normal sheets by increasing the thickness of the sheet which will open switch 56 and decreasing the thickness of the sheet which will close switch 57. Sheets are rejected when either switch is closed and are not rejected when both switches are in the same or open position.

Turning bolt 124 to move the switches in an are away from beam 35 moves switch 57 closer to arm 45 to increase the thickness of the maximum normal sheet required to close switch 57 and moves switch 56 away from arm 45 to decrease the thickness of the minimum normal sheet which will open switch 56. This movement of the switches increases the tolerance of the normal sheets by increasing the difference between the length of strokes required to close switch 57 and open switch 56. The bolt 124 is located at a distance from the axis of bolt 123 that is much greater than the distance of the switches from the axis of this bolt so that a relatively larger movement of handle 126 is required to effect a relatively smaller movement of the switches to provide greater accuracy in adjusting the tolerance of the sheets. The dial can be calibrated with relatively widely spaced indicia to indicate small changes in the tolerance of normal sheets.

When no sheets are moving along the conveying means 10, switches 72, 79 and 75, 91 are open and the gauge roll 44 is urged toward the anvil 38 and is either in contact therewith or closely adjacent thereto. The arm 45 is urged toward the switches 56 and 57 and with arm 45 in this initial position, the normally open switch 56 is maintained in the closed position and the normally closed switch 57 is maintained in the open position. No current can flow across the photo-electric cell 96 so that the closed switch 56 is inoperative to effect energization of solenoid 25. Before a series of sheets can be classified, it is necessary to adjust dials 52 and 125 in the proper setting. For purposes of illustration, it will be assumed that it is desirable to segregate normal sheets having a nominal thickness of .022 inch, the normal sheets may vary by plus or minus .001 inch. Then, the class of normal sheets will include those sheets varying from a minimum thickness of .021 inch to a maximum thickness of .023 inch and the total tolerance or variation is .002 inch. To obtain the setting for the nominal thickness, the operator adjusts handle 53 and dial 52 to raise or lower the beam 35 so that when roll 44 engages the upper surface of a sheet that is .022 inch thick, the arm 45 will hold the switches 56 and 57 in the open position as shown in Figure 5. The operator also adjusts the handle 126 and dial 125 to move the switches 56 and 57 to such position that a sheet thinner than .021 will not open switch 56 and a sheet thicker than .023 inch will close switch 57. The difference in length of the strokes of roll 44 required to open switch 56 and to close switch 57 will be .002 inch and as the outer end of arm 45 moves twice as far as the roll 44, the difference between these strokes of arm 45 will be .004 inch. The series of sheets to be classified will contain sheets of normal thickness and sheets having a thickness greater than and less than the normal thickness. As the leading edge of each sheet moves past cell 96, coils 92 and 93 are energized to close switches 72 and 7 9 after a predetermined period. This period is such that the leading edge portion has passed the gauge roll 44 before the switches are closed. As the sheet moves past the gauging means between roll 44 and anvil 38, the roll 44 rides on the upper surface of the sheet and is moved from its initial position a predetermined distance away from the path of the sheet in accordance with the thickness of the sheet. The end of arm 45 is moved from its initial position in a direction away from the switches 56 and 57 through a stroke in accordance with the thickness of the sheet.

If the sheet being gauged has a normal thickness, both switches 56 and 57 will be maintained in the same or open position as shown in Figure 5, and the deflecting means 11 will not be operated to deflect the sheet. If the sheet being gauged has a thickness less than the minimum normal thickness which is .021 inch, then the arm 45 will not be moved sufficiently to open switch 56. With switch 56 being maintained in the closed or a different position, the timer is energized, and, after a predetermined period, switch 91 is closed to energize relay 112 to connect wires 117 and 118 to complete the circuit to solenoid 25. When the circuit to solenoid 25 is completed, the gate 21 is lowered and the sheet deflected. The timer 90 delays operation of the solenoid 25 sufficiently so that when the gate 21 is lowered, the sheet being gauged has traveled from the gauging means to the deflector gate 21. If the sheet being gauged is thicker than .023 inch, then the switch arm 45 is moved sufficiently to maintain switch 57 in the closed or a different position which, in turn, energizes timer 7 4. After a predetermined period, switch 75 is closed to energize relay 104 and connect wires and 109 to complete the circuit to solenoid 31. When the circuit to solenoid 31 is completed, the solenoid lowers gate 22 to the de' fleeting position, and the abnormal sheet will be deflected. The timer 74 delays energization of solenoid 31 for a period sufficient to permit the sheet to move from the gauging means to the deflector gate 22. Thus, those sheets having a normal thickness between .021 and .023 inch continue to move along a substantially straight path and are collected in a group not including any thicker or thinner abnormal sheets.

If, after classifying such a series of sheets, it is desirable to collect from another series of sheets the sheets having a different nominal thiCklHBSS-f0f example, 0.27 inch-then the dial 52 and handle 53 must be adjusted to raise the beam sufficiently to raise the gauging means .005 inch. Sheets of this greater nominal thickness may include sheets which vary by more than .001 inch from this nominal thickness. Accordingly, the handle 126 and dial are adjusted by the operator to move the switches in an arc toward the beam 35. This movement of the switches moves switch 56 closer to the arm 45 and the switch 57 farther from the arm 45 so that a shorter stroke is required to open switch 56 and a longer stroke is required to close switch 57. In other words, a relatively thinner sheet is required to move switch 56 to the open position and a relatively thicker sheet is required to move switch 57 to the closed position which determines the minimum and the maximum thickness of the normal sheets.

If, for some reason, it were desirable to decrease the tolerance of the normal sheets, then bolt 124 would be turned in the opposite direction to move the switches in an arc in the opposite direction away from beam 35. This movement would move switch 56 away from arm 45 and switch 57 in a direction toward arm 45 so that it would require a relatively thicker sheet to move the arm in a direction away from the switches sufficiently for switch 56 to open and would require a relatively thinner sheet to move arm 45 away from the switches sufficiently to close switch 57. Thus, a relatively thicker sheet of minimum normal thickness would be required to open switch 56 and a sheet ofrelatively thinner maximum thickness would open switch 57 so as to reduce the mag nitude of the tolerance of the normal sheets. I

As each sheet continues to move past the gauging means, the trailing edge of the sheet passes photo-electric cell 96, and the circuit to coils 92 and 93 is opened so that switches 72 and 79 are immediately opened to render switches 56 and 57 inoperative before the trailing edge reaches roll 44.

As shown and described, solenoids 31 and 25 move the corresponding deflector gates to the deflecting position when energized and a solenoid is energized When the. corresponding one of, switches 56 and 57 is closed. The solenoids could be reversed so that they would be biased toward the deflecting. position and movable to the non-deflecting position upon energiz'ation. With this arrangement, the gates would deflect the normal sheets and not deflect the abnormal sheets.- Also, the gates 22 and 24 mayv be disposed below the path of normal sheet travel so that the gates. would have to be raised to the deflecting position to deflect the abnormal sheets downwardly. In addition, the switches56 and 57'could be arranged in a different manner relative to the switch operating arm 45 as long as the switch arm, when gauging a normal sheet, holds both switches in the same position which could be either the open or the closed position and when gauging a sheet of less than normal thickness holds only one of the switches in the other position and when gauging a sheet thicker than the maxi? mum normal thickness holds only the. second switch in the other position.

Two deflector gates are shown arranged to separately deflect the abnormal sheets of mixed, maximum and minimum thicknesses. As shown in Figure 12, a single gate could be used to deflect all of the abnormal sheets; For such an arrangement, wire 71 is connected to wire 78 to connect switches 56 and 57 in' para'llel to solenoid 25- so that when either switch is closed, the deflector 21 is moved to the sheet deflecting position. 7

Referring to Figures 6 to 11, inclusive, which illustrate another sheet classifying apparatus embodying some of the features of the present invention, this apparatus includes a plurality of similar units 135' and136' and also an end unit 137. Only one unit will be described in detail and similar reference numerals will be applied to the identical portions of the various units. Unit 135 includes a pair of belts 138 mounted on and continuously propelled by pulleys 139 and140 rotatably supported in frame 141. The pulleys 139 and 140 ofthe units are rotated by a chain drive, indicated in part at 142. Unit 135 includes a sheet gauging device 143 which controls a deflector gate 144 between units 135 and 136. Unit 136 also includes a similargauging device which controls gate 145 between units 136" and 137. Unit 137 does not include such agauging device. Each gate 144 and 145 is mounted on a rod 146 rotatably supported in suitable hearings on the frame 141. Each gate is swingable upwardly from the non-deflecting position shown in the drawings to a deflecting position to deflect abnormal sheets downwardly. A sheet stacker 148 is provided for receiving and stacking the sheetsdefiected downwardly'by each gate and for receiving the sheets passing from the final unit 137 which are deflected downwardly by guide 149.

Each stacker 148 is adjustable to accommodate sheets of different sizes. The stack of sheets stacked by each stacker is supported on a pallet 150. As shown more clearly in Figure 8, the stacker includes a pair of side plates 151 and 152 slidably mounted on av pair of trans.- verse horizontal rods 154. A long screw 155 having oppositely threaded end portions is rotatably mounted in the framework of the apparatus. A nut 156' is attached to each side plate 151 and 152 and threadably engages the corresponding end portion of lead screw 155. A handle 157 is provided on the outer end of screw 1'55 forlrotatingithe' screw. When the screw 15."!- is rotated in one direction, the vside plates 151," are moved inwardly toward each" other nd. when the screw is rotated in'the'opposite' direction, the plates are moved outwardly from each other. Thus, the plates can be adjusted inwardly or outwardly to space" the plates apart a distance equal to or slightly greater'thali the width of the sheets being classified. 7'

When the moving sheets are deflected downwardly, the leading edge of each' sheet strikes plate 159' which" stops the sheet and aligns the leading edges 'of the sheets Stacked on the pallet 150. The plate 159 is'cor'inect'ed to a nut 160' threadably engaging a rotatable lead screw 161 which can be rotated in opposite directions to move the. plate 159 forwardly or rearwardly. Mounted on. eachplate 151 and 152 there is an inwardly extending. plate 162 and plates 162 form aside of the stacker 148 that is oppo site to plate 159. The plates. 151 and 152, 159' and 162 together form four sides of anexpandable or contract-' able box for vertically aligning. and stackingthe sheets.

Referring more particularly to Figures 9 to 11 the gauging device 143 includes a bracket 164 mounted on a supporting member 165. An arm 166 is rotatably mounted on a pin 167 mounted in bracket 164. Asheet engaging roll 168 is mounted in the outer end of arm 166 above an anvil roll 169. As a sheet moves along the belts 138, it moves between roller 168 and I011 169 and the-roller 168 riding on the upper surface ofthe sheet israised above the anvil roll 169 a-distance equal to the thickness of the sheet. Aswitch. operating lever 170 is rotatably mounted on apin 1-71 in bracket 164. An arm 172 oflever 170 is positioned. above arm 166 and ball 173v is positioned between the arms 172- and 166 to provide a point contact therebetween so that when roll 168 engages a sheet, the arm 166, ball 173 and arm 172 are raised through a stroke'in a direction away from the path of the sheet in accordance with the thickness of the sheet being gauged. The opposite arm 173' of lever 170 actuates a micro-switch diagrammatically shown at 174. Switch 174 includes the normally closed contacts 175 and 176; that is, the contacts are urged toward each other. Switch pins 178- engages arm 173; When no sheet is passing beneath the gauge roll 168; the roll engages anvil roll 169 so that roll 168-is in the lower position. The arm 173 is in the raised position and holds the contact 176 away from contact 175. When a sheet passes beneath roll 168, roll 168 is raised and arm- 173' is lowered. Upon movement of roll 168 to* ward support member 165 to a point at a predetermined distance from member 165, the switch 174 is closed to energize a relay 180. When relay 180 isenergized; switch 181'is closed'to connect one'side' of at solenoid 182 through wires 183' and 184 to. a source of electric current. The other side of solenoid 182 is connected through wire186 to a source of electric current. When solenoid 182 is energized, gate 144 is raised. Thus, if the sheet passing beneath gauge roll 168 has a thickness suflicient to raise roll 168 far enough to close switch 174; then solenoid182 is energized and gate 144 is raised;

The gauge supporting member 165, like the gauge" supporting member 35, is adjustable upwardly and downwardly for increasing or decreasing the magnitude of the movement of roll 168- upwardly required to operate switch 174 and effect movement of gate-144 to the 'de'- fleeting position. Adjusting the member 165cha'nges the distance from roll- 169 of the position or point at which roller 168 no longer holds open switch 174; The member is supported at one end on a knife edge 188 of a member 189 carried by frame 141.- Apair of plates 190 extend upwardly from member 189 on' oppositesides' of meniher 165 to hold it in place. An L-shaped bracket 192 is mounted on member 189. A long bolt 193extends through member 165 and .threadably engages'=bracket*192-. The bolt 193 hasaslidingzfitin-members 165; and-a coim pressed spring 194 around bolt 193 is interposed between member 165 and the head of bolt 193 to hold member 165 down on the knife edge 188. The fit between bolt 193 and member 165 is sufliciently loose to permit limited tilting of member 165. A bracket 196 is mounted on the opposite side of the path of sheets. A screw 197 is rotatably mounted in bracket 196 and is threaded through the end of beam member 165. When a screw 197 is rotated, the end of beam is moved in an arc about the knife edge 188 to raise or lower the gauging device. A calibrated dial 195 is fastened to the upper end of screw 197 for accurately adjusting the gauging device. For each increment of movement of the end of beam 165, the gauging device is moved only one half the distance so that a relatively greater degree of movement of the end of the beam is required to produce a relatively lesser degree of movement of the gauging device. If the screw 197 has 40 threads per inch and the dial is calibrated in twentyfifths, then turning the dial 198 one indicia mark will move the gauging device .0005 inch so that the gauging means can be adjusted quite accurately.

The present apparatus preferably includes a number of units 136 interposed between units 135 and 137. The number of units used will depend on the number of groups of classified sheets. Before classifying a series of sheets, the gauging device 143 of each unit is adjusted. For example, the gauging device of unit 135 may be positioned to deflect all sheets having a thickness greater than .028 inch. The sheets of lesser thickness will move to the next unit where the gauging device will cause the gate 145 to deflect all sheets thicker than, for example, .026. This group of deflected sheets will contain sheets between .028 and .026 inch thick. The sheets collected in the stack at the end of the line will be thinner than .026 inch. With a number of units 136, the series of sheets can be classifled into a corresponding number of groups with the sheets in each group having a thickness between a predetermined minimum and maximum value. If desirable, the sheets in the first and last groups may be again run through the line after the gauging means have been adjusted.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 72,313, filed January 24, 1949, for Sheet Classifiers, now abandoned.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for gauging sheet material and segregating the class of sheets of the material having normal thickness from the class of sheets of the material having abnormal thickness, the combination comprising, conveyor means for successively moving sheet material forwardly along a path, sheet deflector means adjacent the conveyor means movable to a sheet deflecting position to deflect sheets of the material of one such class from said path and movable to a non-deflecting position whereby the sheets of the material of the other such class continue along said path; electrically controlled means operable upon energization to move the deflector means from one of the positions to the other of the positions; an electrical control circuit for controlling energization of said electrical means and the position of said deflector means, said control circuit including a pair of switches, each switch being actuable to a position for effecting energization of the electrical means; sheet material gauging means adjacent the conveyor in advance of the deflector means including a switch actuating member adjacent the switches movable from an initial position through a stroke in a direction extending toward said switches, and including a sheet material engaging member movable away from the conveyor by the sheet material in accordance with its thickness, said members being associated for movement in unison whereby the length of stroke of the switch actuating member is proportional to the thickness of the sheet material being engaged by the sheet material engaging member; and means supporting the switches at different effective distances from the actuating member so that a longer stroke is required to actuate one switch than the other switch whereby the difference in length between the switch actuating strokes is proportional to the difference in thickness between the maximum and minimum normal sheets of the material and means for supporting the switches for movement in an arc in opposite directions about an axis extending in a direction transversely of the direction of the stroke of the switch actuating member, said switches being disposed on opposite sides of a line extending from said axis to the switch actuating member whereby movement through said are changes the difference between the lengths of the switch actuating strokes and the thickness tolerance between the maximum and minimum normal sheets of the material.

2. In apparatus for gauging sheet material and segregating the class of sheets of the material having normal thickness from the class of sheets of the material having abnormal thickness, the combination comprising, conveyor means for successively moving sheet material forwardly along a path; sheet deflector means including two deflectors each operable to a sheet deflecting position, one deflector for deflecting abnormal sheets of the material having a thickness greater than normal and the other deflector for deflecting abnormal sheets of the material having a thickness less than normal; electrical means operable upon energization, selectively and separately, to operate each deflector to the sheet deflecting position; an electrical control circuit for controlling energization of the electrical means, the circuit including a normally open switch and including a normally closed switch, each switch when closed being operable to eflect energization of the electrical means and movement of the corresponding deflector means to the deflecting position; sheet material gauging means adjacent the conveyor in advance of the deflector means including a switch actuating member adjacent the switches movable from a predetermined initial position through a stroke along a predetermined path, and including a sheet material engaging member movable away from the conveyor by the sheet material in accordance with its thickness, said members being associated for movement in unison whereby the length of stroke of the switch actuating member is proportional to the thickness of the sheet material being engaged by the sheet material engaging member; means supporting the switches adjacent the switch actuating member in such a position that the switches are maintained in their normal positions when the switch actuating member is in the initial position and in such a position that a longer stroke is required to close the normally open switch than to open the normally closed switch whereby the difference in length between the switch actuating strokes is proportional to the difference in thickness between the maximum and minimum normal sheets of the material and means for supporting the switches for movement in an arc in opposite directions about an axis extending in a direction transversely of the direction of stroke of the switch actuating member, said switches being disposed on opposite sides of a line extending from said axis to the switch actuating member whereby movement through said arc changes the difference between the lengths of the switch actuating strokes and the thickness tolerance between the maximum and minimum normal sheets of the material.

3. In apparatus for gauging and classifying a series of sheets to segregate the abnormal sheets from normal sheets, the combination comprising, a conveyor for successively moving such a series of sheets along a path; electrically operated sheet deflector means operable upon energization to a sheet deflecting position; sheet gauging means adjacent said path in advance of the deflector means including a switch operating member movable from an initial position through a stroke having a length in accordance with the thickness of the sheet being gauged; and a control circuit for effecting energization of the deflector means, said control circuit including a with. mu Wa la pair of switch means associated with said gauging means and operable independently by said member to render said control circuit ineffective for energizing the deflector means when gauging a normal sheet, a photoelectric cell directed at a point along said path a predetermined distance in advance of said gauging means operable to render the control circuit ineffective when no sheet is passing said point, time delay means operable to render the control circuit ineffective for a predetermined period after the leading edge portion of a sheet passes said point, and timer means operable to render said control circuit ineflective for a predetermined period after a sheet is gauged.

4. In apparatus for continuously gauging sheet material of different thickness and for segregating sheets of the material of normal thickness, each having a thickness between a predetermined maximum and minimum value, from abnormal sheets of the material having a thickness greater than or less than the thickness of the normal sheets of the material, the combination comprising, conveyor means for continuously moving sheet material forwardly along a path; sheet segregating means movable to a normal position to direct the moving normal sheets of the material along a first path and movable to an abnormal position to direct the moving abnormal sheets of the material along a second path; beam means extending across the path of the sheet material in advance of the sheet material segregating means; an electrical control circuit for controlling movement of the segregating means to the normal and abnormal positions, said control circuit including a first switch and a second switch, each switch being operable to a first position and to a second position and said switches being arranged in the circuit to effect movement of the segregating means to one position when both switches are in the second position and to effect movement of the segregating means to the other position when one of the switches is in the first position; sheet material gauging means carried by said beam means including a switch operating member movable from an initial position through a stroke in a predetermined direction having a length proportional to the thickness of the sheetmaterial being gauged; means movably supporting the switches on the beam means in such a position adjacent the switch operating member that the first switch is maintained in the first position and the second switch is maintained in the second position when the member is in the initial position, and that a longer stroke is required to operate the second switch to the first position than to operate the first switch to the second position whereby the diflerences in length of the switch operating strokes is proportional to the diflerence in thickness 'between the maximum and minimum normal sheets of the material, means for supporting the switches for movement toward and away from the switch actuating member for varying the diflerence in length between the switch operating strokes and the thickness tolerance between the maximum and minimum normal sheets of the material; and means for supporting the beam means and for adjusting the beam means toward and away from the path of the sheet material to vary the distance of the beam means and the gauging means fromv the path of the sheet material to vary the thickness of the sheet material required to effect movement of the deflector meansfrom the normal to the abnormal position.

5. In apparatus for continuously gauging sheet ma terial of different thickness and for segregating sheets of the material of normal thickness, each having a thickness between a predetermined maximum and minimum value, from abnormal sheets of the material having a thickness greater than or less than the thickness of the normal sheets, the combination comprising, conveyor means for successively moving sheet material forwardly along a path; sheet material deflector means including, two deflectors, each operablefrom a non-deflectingto a sheet I4 deflecting position, the first deflector for deflecting abnormal sheets of the material having a thicknessless than normal andthe second deflector for deflecting abnormal sheets of the material having a thickness greater than normal; horizontal beam means extending across the path of the sheet material in advance of the deflector means; an electrical control circuit for controlling operation of the deflector means, said control circuit including 21 normally open switch and a normally closed switch, the normally open switch when closed being operable to eflect movement of the first, deflector to the sheet deflecting position and the normally. closed switch when closed being operable to effect movement of the second deflector to the sheet deflecting position; sheet material gauging means carried by said beam means including a sheet material engaging member movable away from the conveyorby the sheet material inaccordance with its thickness and a switch operating member adjacent the switches movable from an initial point thro gh a stroke along a path toward the switches, said members being associated for movement in unison whereby the length of stroke of the switch operating member is proportional to the thickness of the sheet material being engaged by the sheet material engaging member; meansmovably supporting the switches on the beam means adjacent the switch operating member in a position such that only the normally open switch is maintained in the closed position by the switch operating member when in the initial position and such that a longer stroke is required to close the normally closed switch than is required to open the normally open switch whereby the difference in length between the switch operating strokes is proportional to the maximum and minimum normal sheets of the material not deflected by the deflectors; adjusting means for moving the switches in an arc about an axis extending transversely of the path of the switch operating member, said switches being disposed on opposite sides of said last-mentioned path and in such a position that movement through said are in one direction moves the normally closed switch toward and the normally open switch away from the switch operating member t increase the tolerance between the and movement through said are in an opposite direction moves the normally closed switch away from and the normally open switch towardthe switch operating member to decrease the tolerance between the'minimum and maximum normal sheetsof the material; hinge means on material engaging sheets to vary the material.

vance of the segregating means; an electrical control circuit 'for controlling movement of the segregating means to the normal and abnormal positions, said control circuit includingfla normally closed switch and a normally open on the beam means, said segregating means being operable to the sheet deflecting position only when one of the switches is in the closed position; sheet gauging means carried by said beam means including a switch operating member movable away from an initial position through a stroke extending in a predetermined direction and having a length proportional to the thickness of the sheet being gauged; means movably supporting the switches on the beam means at different effective distances from the switch operating member such that only the normally open switch is maintained in the closed position by the switch operating member when in the initial position and such that a longer stroke is required to close the normally closed switch than to open the normally open switch whereby the difference in length between the switch operating strokes is proportional to the difference in thickness between the maximum and minimum sheets; adjusting means for moving the switches in an are about an axis extending transversely of the path of the switch operating member, said switches being disposed on opposite sides of said last-mentioned path and in such a position that movement through said are in one direction moves the normally closed switch toward and the normally open switch away from the switch operating member to increase the tolerance between the minimum and maximum normal sheets and movement through said arc in an opposite direction moves the normally closed switch away from and the normally open switch toward the switch operating member to decrease the tolerance between the minimum and maximum normal sheets; a photo-electric cell interposed in said control circuit and directed at the path of the sheets a predetermined distance in advance of the gauging means, said cell being operable to render the control circuit effective only when a sheet is passing the cell whereby the trailing edge portion of a sheet is inefiective for operating the deflector means; and time delay means associated with said photo electric cell and operable to render the switches ineffective until after the leading edge portion of the sheet has passed the gauging means.

7. In apparatus for gauging and segregating a series of sheets into a class of normal sheets, each having a thickness between a maximum and a minimum value, and a class of abnormal sheets each having a thickness greater than or less than a thickness of the normal sheets, the combination comprising, conveyor means for successively moving such a series of sheets forwardly along a path; sheet deflector means including a first deflector operable from a non-deflecting position to a sheet deflecting position for deflecting abnormal sheets having a thickness less than normal and a second deflector operable from a non-deflecting position to a sheet deflecting position for deflecting abnormal sheets having a thickness greater than normal; horizontal beam means extending across and above the path of the sheets in advance of the segregating means; an electrical control circuit for controlling operation of the deflector means, said control circuit including a normally open switch and a normally closed switch mounted on the beam means, the normally open switch when closed being operable to effect movement of the first deflector to the sheet deflecting position and the normally closed switch when closed being operable to effect movement of the second deflector to the sheet deflecting position; sheet gauging means carried by said beam means including a sheet engaging member movable away from the conveyor from an initial position by the sheets in accordance with their thickness and a switch operating member movable from an initial position through a stroke along a path toward the switches, said members being associated for movement in unison whereby the length of stroke of the switch operating member is proportional to the thickness of the sheet being engaged by the sheet engaging member; means movably supporting the switches on the beam means adjacent the switch operating memswitch mounted her in a position such that only the normally open switch is maintained in the closed position by the switch operating member when in the initial position and such that a longer stroke is required to close the normally closed switch than is required to open the normally open switch whereby the difference in length between the switch operating strokes is proportional to the thickness tolerance between the maximum and minimum normal sheets not deflected by the deflectors; adjusting means for moving the switches in an arc about an axis extending transversely of the path of the switch operating member, said switches being disposed on opposite sides of said last-mentioned path and in such a position that movement through said are in one direction moves the normally closed switch toward and the normally open switch away from the switch operating member to increase the tolerance between the minimum and maximum normal sheets and movement through said are in an opposite direction moves the normally closed switch away from and the normally open switch toward the switch operating member to decrease the tolerance between the minimum and maximum normal sheets; hinge means on one side of the sheet path supporting one end of the beam means, the hinge axis being parallel to the path of the sheets; adjustable means supporting the opposite end of the beam means including a vertical rotatable screw, nut means threaded on said screw and connected to the opposite end of the beam means so that rotation of the screw vertically moves the opposite end of the beam means about the axis of the hinge and moves the sheet gauging means including the sheet engaging member relative to the path of the sheets to vary the thickness of the normal sheets without varying the thickness tolerance of the normal sheets; a photo-electric cell interposed in said control circuit and directed at the path of the sheets a predetermined distance in advance of the gauging means, said cell being operable to render the control circuit efiective only when a sheet is passing the cell whereby the trailing edge portion of a sheet is ineflective for operating the deflector means; and time delay means associated with said photo-electric cell and operable to render the switches ineflective until after the leading edge portion of the sheet has passed the gauging means whereby the leading edge portion of a sheet is ineffective for operating the deflector means.

8. In apparatus for successively gauging each of a series of sheets of different thickness and for segregating the sheets of normal thickness, having a thickness between a maximum and minimum thickness, from the abnormal sheets including undergauge sheets having a thickness less than the normal sheets and overgauge sheets having a thickness greater than the normal sheets, the combination comprising, conveyor means for successively moving such a series of sheets one by one forwardly along a path; electrically operable deflector means disposed along the path and operable to deflect the abnormal sheets from tthe path; beam means extending across the path of the sheets in advance of the sheet deflecting means; an electrical control circuit for controlling operation of the sheet deflecting means, said control circuit including a normally open switch operable to a closed position and a normally closed switch operable to an open position, the switches being mounted on the beam means and being arranged in the control circuit to effect operation of the sheet deflecting means to deflect an abnormal sheet when one of the switches is closed; sheet gauging means carried by the beam means including a sheet engaging member disposed adjacent the path of the sheets and movable away from the path by a sheet moving along the conveyor so that the sheet engaging member is moved in accordance with the thickness of the sheet being gauged; a switch operating member adjacent the switches and connected to the sheet gauging member with the switch operating member being movable from an initial position through a stroke toward the switches with the length of stroke being in accordance with the thickness of the sheet being gauged, the switch operating member and the switches being arranged so that a longer stroke is required to close the normally open switch that is required to open the normally closed switch, whereby the ditference in length of the switch operating strokes is proportional to the difierence in thickness between the maximum and minimum normal sheets; and means supporting the beam means and for adjusting the beam means toward and away from the path of the sheets to vary the distance of the beam means and the sheet engaging member from the path of the sheets to vary the nominal thickness of the normal sheets Without varying the difference in thickness between the maximum and minimum normal sheets.

9. In apparatus for continuously gauging sheet material of dilferent thickness and for segregating sheets of the material of normal thickness each having a thickness between a predetermined maximum and minimum value from abnormal sheets of the material having a thickness greater than or less than the thickness of the normal sheets of the material, the combination comprising, conveyor means for continuously moving sheet material forwardly along a path, sheet material segregating means operable to a normal state to direct the normal sheets of the material along a first path and operable to an abnormal state to direct the abnormal sheets of the material along a different path, an electrical control circuit for controlling operation of the segregating means to the normal and abnormal states, said control circuit including a first switch and a second switch, the first switch and the second switch each including a switch actuating member for operating respective switches to a first position and to a second position, the first switch being operable from the first position to the second position upon movement of its actuating member in one direction and being operable from the second position to the first position upon movement of its actuating member in the other direction, the second switch being operable from the second position to the first position upon movement of its actuating member in the one direction and being operable from the first position to the second position upon movement of its in the other direction, the switches the circuit to effect operation of the segregating means to the normal state when both switches are in the second position and to effect operation of the segregating means to the abnormal state when one of the switches is in the first position, a rigid common switch operating member for the first switch and the second switch, means for pivotally mounting the common switch operating member for swinging movement about an axis passing through an intermediate point of the common switch operating member, sheet material contacting means pivotally mounted adjacent one end of thecommon switch switch and the second switch relative to the common switch operating member with the actuat ng members of the first switch and the second switch 18 contacting respective switch contacting means of the common switch operating member so that the-switch actuating members move responsively to movement of the common switch operating member, the first switch being in the first position with the common switch operating member in the stop position and being operable to the other position upon movement of its actuating member in the second second switch being in the second position with the common switch operating member in the stop position and being operable to the first position upon movement of its actuating member in the second direction responsively to movement of the common switch operating member through a relatively long stroke, the relatively short stroke of the common switch operating member corresponding to the minimum thickness of normal sheets of the material and the relatively long stroke of the common switch operating member corresponding to the maximum thickness of normal sheets of the material.

10. In an apparatus for continuously gauging sheet material of different thickness and for segregating the sheets of the material of normal thickness each having a thickness between a predetermined maximum and minimum value from abnormal sheets of the material having a thickness greater than or sheets as defined in cla1m 9 including mounting segregating sheets of the material into a class of sheets of normal thic prising, material forwardly along a path, sheet deflector means including two deflectors each operable to a sheet deflectone deflector for deflecting abnormal sheets position, the sheet material conswitch operating member in thetacting means adapted to contact the sheet material moving along the conveyor path and move the common switch operating member away from the stop position through a stroke extending in a second direction opposite the first direction and having a length proportional to the thickness of the sheet material contacting the sheet material contacting means, switch contacting means for the switches of the one circuit and the other circuit mounted adjacent the other end of the common switch operating member for movement therewith, means for mounting the switches of the first and second circuits relative to the common switch operating member with the actuating members of the switches contacting respective switch contacting means of the common switch operating member so that the switch actuating members move responsively to movement of the common switch operating member, the switch of the one circuit being in the open position with the common switch operating member in the stop position and being operable to the closed position upon movement of its actuating member in the one direction responsively to movement of the common switch operating member in the second direction through a relatively short stroke, and the switch of the other circuit being in the closed position with the common switch operating member in the stop position and being operable to the open position upon movement of its actuating member in the one direction responsively to movement of the common switch operating member in the second direction through a relatively long stroke, the relatively short stroke of the common switch operating member corresponding to the minimum thickness of normal sheets and the relatively long stroke of the common switch operating mem ber corresponding to the maximum thickness of normal sheets.

12. In apparatus for continuously gauging sheet material of difierent thickness and for segregating sheets of the material of normal thickness each having a thickness between a predetermined maximum and minimum value from abnormal sheets of the material having a thickness greater than or less than the thickness of the normal sheets, the combination comprising, conveyor means for moving sheet material forwardly along a path; sheet segregating means movable to a first state to direct normal sheets of the material along a first path and movable to a second state to direct abnormal sheets of the mate rial along a second path, an electrical control circuit for controlling movement of the segregating means to the first and second states, said control circuit including a first switch and a second switch, each switch being operable to a first position and a second position and said switches being arranged in the circuit to eifect movement of the segregating means to one position when both switches are in the first position and to effect movement of the segregating means to the other position when one of the switches is in the second position; sheet material gauging means including an elongated member movably mounted on supporting means located above the path of the sheet material and a sheet material engaging member on one end of the elongated member, the sheet engaging ember adapted to contact the sheet material and effect movement of the other end of the elongated member away from an initial position through a stroke extending in a predetermined direction and having a length proportional to the thickness of the sheet material; a common supporting member for the switches mounted on the supporting means, the switches being mounted on the common supporting member in contiguous relationship and the common supporting member being mounted on the supporting means in operative relation with the other end of the elongated member so that the first switch is maintained in the second position and the second switch is maintained in the first position when the other end of the elongated member is in the initial position and so that the second switch is operated to the second position and the first switch is operated to the first position upon movement of the other end of the elongated member away from the initial position, the second switch being mounted relative to the other end of the elongated member a greater effective distance than the first switch so that a longer stroke of the other end of the elongated member is required to operate the second switch to the second position than to operate the first switch to the first position, and means for adjusting the positions of the first switch and the second switch relative to the other end of the elongated member, the last-named means including means for mounting the common supporting member on the supporting means for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the direction of movement of the other end of the elongated member and lying in a plane passing between the switches so that upon rotation of the common supporting member in one direction the first switch is moved closer and the second switch farther from the other end of the elongated member and upon rotation of the common supporting member in the other direction the first switch is moved farther and second switch closer from the other end of the elongated member.

13. In apparatus for continuously gauging sheet material as defined in claim 12 in which the supporting means comprises beam means extending transversely of the path, hinge means supporting one end of the beam means and adjustable means for supporting the other end of the beam means, the adjustable means being operable to vary the position of the sheet material engaging member relative to the path.

14, In apparatus for continuously gauging sheet material of different thickness and for segregating sheets of the material of normal thickness each having a thickness between a predetermined maximum and minimum value from abnormal sheets of the material having a thickness greater than or less than the thickness of the normal sheets, the combination comprising, conveyor means for moving sheet material forwardly along a path, sheet segregating means movable to a first state to direct normal sheets of the material along a first path and movable to a second state to direct abnormal sheets of the material along a second path, an electrical control circuit for controlling movement of the segregating means to the first and second states, said control circuit including a first switch and a second switch, each switch being operable to a first position and a second position and said switches being arranged in the circuit to effect movement of the segregating means to one position when both switches are in the first postion and to effect movement of the segregating means to the other position when one of the switches is in the second position; sheet material gauging means including an elongated member rotatably mounted on supporting means located above the path of the sheet material and a sheet material engaging member on one end of the elongated member, the sheet engaging member adapted to contact the sheet material and effect movement of the other end of the elongated member away from an initial position through a stroke extending in a predetermined direction and having a length proportional to the thickness of the sheet material; a common supporting member for the switches mounted on the supporting means, the switches being mounted on the common supporting member in contiguous relationship and the common supporting member being mounted on the supporting means in operative relation with the other end of the elongated member so that the first switch is maintained in the second position and the second switch is maintained in the first position when the other end of the elongated member is in the initial position and so that the second switch is operated to the second position and the first switch is operated to the first position upon movement of the other end of the elongated member away from the initial position, the second switch being mounted relative to the other end of the elongated member a greater effective distance than the first switch so that a longer stroke of the other end of the elongated member is required to operate the second switch to the second position than to operate the first switch to the first position, and means for adjusting the positions of the first switch and the second switch relative to the other end of the elongated member, the last-named means including means for mounting the common supporting member on the supporting means for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the direction of movement of the other end of the elongated member and lying in a plane passing between the switches so that upon rotation of the common supporting member in one direction the first switch is moved closer and the second switch farther from the other end of the elongated member and upon rotation of the common supporting member in the other direction the first switch is moved farther and second switch closer from the other end of the elongated member.

15. In ap rial as defin paratus for continuously gauging sheet mateed in claim 14 in which the supporting means comprises beam means extending transversely of the path,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilcox Oct. 22, 1940 Looney Sept. 22, 1942 Ardell Feb. 6, 1945 Tanday et a1 Aug. 14, 1945 Todd Oct. 9, 1951 

